Indicating or like mechanism for price-scales or other machines



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

P. L. FULLER.

INDIGATING 0R LIKE MECHANISM FOR PRICE SCALES OR OTHER MACHINES.

N0. 603,503. Patented May 3,1898.

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(No Model.) :2 Sheets-Sheet 2, P. L. FULLER. INDICATING 0R LIKEMECHANISM FOR PRICE SCALES OR OTHER MACHINES Patented May 8; 1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Quince.

FREDERICK L. FULLER, OF TRENTON, NE\V JERSEY.

lNDlCATlNG R LIKE MECHANISM FOR PRICE-SCALES OR OTHER MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,503, dated May 3,1898.

Application filed January 5, 1897. Renewed August 9, 1897- Serial No.647,647. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concerm Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. FULLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, county of Mercer, andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Indicating or Like Mechanism for Price-Scales or other Machines,fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings,

forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in indicating mechanism designedparticularly for application to weighing scales for the purpose ofindicating the prices of articles Weighed, it being the object of thepresent invention to provide mechanism of this character which shall beof simple and durable construction, having few parts, and which shall bereliable and accurate both in adj ustment and operation.

Broadly the invention consists in an indi eating or like mechanism forapplication to price-scales and other machines, comprising an inclinedmember for controlling the extent of its operation and a member coactingtherewith, one adjustable transversely to the other, the inclination ofthe inclined member varying progressively in the direction of suchadjustment to suit, in the case of pricescales, variations in the unitprice of the articles weighed, so as to secure actuation of theindicating mechanism in accordance with such unit prices. The inclinedmember of the indicating mechanism is preferably, as will hereinafterappear, the actuator thereof, and the member also which is adjustable inthe transverse direction is preferably the member coacting therewith.

As the improvements constituting the invention have been designedparticularly for application to price-scales, in combination with whichthey have peculiar advantages, they have for convenience beenillustrated herein and will be hereinafter described in detail in suchconnection, although it is to be understood that they are of generalapplication.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of a price-scaleprovided with the improvements of the present invention. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2,showing the parts in the positions they occupy after the operation ofthe scale in weighing and indicating the price of the article weighed.Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. (3 is a sectionon the line 6 6 of the same figure.

Referring to said drawings, 1 represents the hood or frame of the scale,the rear plate 2 of which has connected to it the working parts of theweighing and price-indicating mechanism and the front plate 3 of whichis provided with a plate bearing two dials 4 5, representing,respectively, pounds and fractions thereof and dollars andcents.

The weighing mechanism consists of a Weighing-rod 6, vertically movablethrough the hood or casing between two pairs of friction-rollers 7 8,its movement in both directions being limited by stops. (Not shown.) Theweighing-rod is suspended from the hood by a spring 9, secured to therim of the hood at one end and connected to the weighingrod at the otherend, which spring holds the weighing-rod in its normal or elevatedposition, as shown in Fig. 2, in the usual manner. The weighing-rod isprovided with a rack 10, which engages a pinion 11 upon the inner end ofa sleeve 12, loosely mounted upon a shaft 13, the outer end of thesleeve being provided with a pointer 14, coactin g with dial 4, toindicate the weight. The lower end of the weighing-rod is provided withthe usual ring or hook, from which the article to be weighed or the panfor containing it is suspended. When the weighing-rod descends under theweight of the article being weighed, the rack 10, engaging the pinion11, will rotate the lat ter, and through it the weight-pointer 14, whichwhen the weighing-rod comes to rest will indicate upon the dial 1, inpounds and fractions thereof, the weight of the article.

The indicating mechanism consists of an inclined member 16 and arack-bar 17, the extent of movement whereof is controlled thereby, andwhich in turn actuates indicating devices, which will now be referredto. The

inclined member 16 in the case shown is the actuating member of theindicating mechanism, and for that reason is secured to the weighing-rod6, and when moved thereby engages and moves the rack-bar 17, which ismounted to slide longitudinallyin a carriage 18, supported on bars 19,secured to the front and rear plates 2 3. The rack-bar 17 engages abroad pinion 20, the shaft 13 of which is provided with a pointer 21,coacting with dial 5, to indicate the price of the article weighed. Theinclined member 16 is inclined longitudinally-that is, in the directionof its movement, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4-so as to move the rack-bar 17a distance corresponding to the extent of its own movement, whichdepends, of course, upon the weight of the article weighed, and is alsoinclined transversely to such movement, as shown in Fig. 5, theinclination of the inclined member 16 thus varying progressively to suitVariations in the unit prices of the articles weighed. The carriage 18is adjustable transversely to the inclined member or actuator toposition the rack-bar 17 relatively thereto in accordance with the unitprice. Manually-operated means for so adjusting the carriage areprovided, consisting of a pinion 22 on the upper end of a vertical rod23, mounted to turn in brackets 24, projecting from the rear plate 2,

which pinion engages a rack 25 on the sliding carriage 18, and whenturned slides the latter back or forth on the rods 19, the rack-bar 17moving with it across the horizontal plane portion 26 of the inclinedmember or actuator to the desired position. The lower end of the rod 28is provided with a knob 27, extending outside the hood or casing, forturning the rod and through it the pinion 22, and also with a dial 2S,representing rates per pound.

or ounce, or unit prices, which dial coacts with a fixed pointer 29, bywhich the extent of rotation of the rod 23 is regulated.

Normally the several parts occupy the positions in which they are shownin Figs. 1 to 3, 5, and 6-that is, with the rack-bar 17 in line with theplane horizontal and vertical portions 26 30 of the inclined member oractuator. WVith the parts in such position the scale may, if desired, beused simply for the purpose of weighing,t-he downward movement of theweighing-rod producing no effect upon the rack-bar 17, because thelatter is in line with the plane vertical portion 30 of the inclinedmember 16 and out of the path of movement of the inclined portionsthereof. If it be desired to indicate the cost of the article weighed,the pinion 22 will be rotated through rod 23, so as to slide thecarriage 18 inwardly toward the back plate 2 until the unit price on thedial 28 of the article to be weighed registers with pointer 29. As thecarriage 18 is thus slid backward, carrying with it the rack-bar 17, thelatter is brought into line with gradually-increasing inclined portionsof the inclined member 16. After the adjustment of the rack-bar to theproper position the article to be weighed is placed upon the hook andthe rod 6 moved downwardly thereby and with it the inclined member. Asthe latter passes the rack-bar 17 it will move it toward the right adistance corresponding to the extent of movement of the rod 6 and to theposition of the rack-bar 17 transversely to the inclined member. As therack-bar is moved it will rotate the pinion 20 and pointer 21 in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. l to the graduation upon dial 5representing the multiple of the weight by the unit price, or, in otherwords, the cost of the article weighed. If the unit price be five cents,but a slight rearward adjustment of the carriage 1S and the rack-bar 17will be necessary. If the unit price be thirty cents, the carriage 18will be adjusted to a transverse position, substantially as shown inFig. 2, and if the weight be five pounds upon the downward movement ofthe weighing-rod G the pointer 14- will indicate 5 pounds and thepointer 21 $1. 50, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. It the unit pricebe greater, the sliding carriage 18 will be adjusted still farthertoward the rear, and if the unit price be less it will be adjustedtoward the front plate 3. Upon the removal of the article weighed fromthe weighing-rod 6 the latterwill be returned to normal position by thespring 9. As it is thus re turned and the rack-bar 17 relieved of thepressure of the inclined member or actuator 16 said rack-bar and thecost-pointer 21 will be returned to normal or zero posit-i011 by a lightspring 31, wound upon the shaft 13and secured to a stud 32 in the rearplate 2. The end of the rack-bar 17 which contacts with the inclinedmember or actuator 16 is preferably provided with a roller to reduceiriction.

The construction shown and described illustrates but one of manyapplications which may be made of the present invention and one of thepreferred embodiments of the invention when applied to a price-scale.

It is to be understood that the invention may be applied to other usesand that changes and modifications may be made in the particularconstruction shown and described without departing from the invention.

Vhat is claimed is 1. An indicating or like mechanism comprising aninclined member and a member coacting therewith, said members beingadjustable one relatively to the other transversely to the incline andsaid incline vary ing progressively in the direction of adj ustment,substantially as described.

2. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined member and amember coacting therewith, said members being adj ustable one relativelyto the other transversely to the incline and said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adj ustment, and manually-operatedmeans for etfecting such adjustment, substantially as described.

3. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined member and amember coacting therewith and adjustable transversely to the incline,said incline varying progressively in the direction of adjustment,substantially as described.

4. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined member and amember coacting therewith and adjustable transversely to the incline,said incline varying progressively in the direction of adjustment, andmanually-operated means for effecting such adjustment, substantially asdescribed.

5. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined actuator and amember actuated thereby, said members being adjustable one relatively tothe other transversely to the incline and said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adjustment, substantially asdescribed.

6. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined actuator and amember actuated thereby, said members being adjustable one relatively tothe other transversely to the incline and said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adjustment, and manually-operatedmeans for effecting such adjustment, substantially as described.

7. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined actuator and amember actuated thereby and adjustable transversely to the incline, saidincline varying progressively in the direction of adjustment,substantially as described.

8. An indicating or like mechanism comprising an inclined actuator and amember actuated thereby and adj u stable transversely to the incline,said incline varying progressively in the direction of adjustment, andmanually-operated means for effecting such adjustment, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computing mechanismcomprising an inclined member and a member coacting therewith, saidmembers being adj ustable one relatively to the other transversely tothe incline and said incline varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment, one of said members being movable past the other to actuatesaid computing mechanism in ac cordance with the weight of the article,substantially as described.

10. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member and a member coacting therewith,said members being adjustable one relatively to the other transverselyto the incline and said incline varying progressively in the directionof adjustment, and manually-operated means for effecting suchadjustment, one of said members being movable past the other to actuatesaid computing mechanism in accordance with the weight of the article,substantially as described.

11. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member and a member coacting therewithand adjustable transversely to the incline, said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adjustment, one or" said members beingmovable past the other to actuate the computing mechanism in accordancewith the weight of the article, substantially as described.

12. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member and a member coacting therewithand adjustable transversely to the incline, said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adjustment and manually-operated meansfor effecting such adjustment, one of said members being movable pastthe other to actuate the computing mechanism in accordance with theWeight of the article, substantially as described.

13. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined actuator and a member actuated thereby,said members being adj ustable one relatively to the other transverselyto the incline and said incline varying progressivelyin the direction ofadj ustment, said actuator being movable past the other member toactuate the computing mechanism in accordance with the weight of thearticle, substantially as described.

14. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined actuator and a member actuated thereby,said members being ad j ustable one relatively to the other transverselyto the incline and said incline varying progressively in the directionof adjustment and manually-operated means for effecting such adjustment,said actuator being movable past the other member to actuate thecomputing mechanism in accordance with the weight of the article,substantially as described.

15. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-compntingmechanism comprising an inclined actuator and a member actuated therebyand adjustable transversely to the incline, said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of such adjustment, said actuator beingmovable past the other member to actuate the computing mechanism inaccordance with the weight of the article, substantially as described.

16. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined actuator and a member actuated therebyand adjustable transversely to the incline, said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of such adjustment and manuallybperatedmeans for effecting such adjustment, said actuator being movable pastthe other member to actuate the computing mechanism in accordance withthe weight of the article, substantially as described.

17. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member and a member coacting therewith,said members being adj ustable one relatively to the other transverselyto the incline and said incline varying progressively in the directionof adjustment, one of said members being carried by a movable part ofthe Weighing mechanism ,substantially as described.

18. The combination with weighing mechanism, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined actuator carried by a mov able part ofthe weighing mechanism, and a member actuated .thereby and adjustabletransversely to the incline, said incline varying progressively in thedirection of ad justment, substantially as described.

19. The combination with weighing-rod 0, of the inclined actuator 16,the inclination whereof varies progressively in a transverse direction,rack-bar l7, adjustable carriage 18 in which said rack-bar is mounted,and means my hand in the presence of two subscribing 3t witnesses.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.

Witnesses:

T. F. KEHOE, .J. J. KENNER.

